First Russian poultry producer approved for halal exports

Russian agricultural holding, Akashevo, has signed a contract for the supply of halal poultry meat to Sahel Al-Madina Kompani for Frozen in Saudi Arabia, the governmental website of Mari El reports.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, Akashevo has also been approved to export to UAE, Iran and Bahrain. The total volume of the supply provided by the contract is 38,000 tonnes annually, and this volume could be increased in future.

Akashevo has become the first Russian company to receive approval of the Islamic Chamber Research &Information Center (ICRIC) for the supply of poultry meat in the Muslim community the report says.

Establishing a halal production line in Akashevo was conducted with the support of ICRIC experts, which allowed the company to file an application to register in the system of voluntary certification of products and services which meet the requirements of Islam - International Halal System (HALAL) (ROSS RU. 3909.04FDN0). “The main advantage of this system is that it takes into account all the latest global developments in the Halal industry,” an official stated.

Akashevo has also started implementing a program to increase its production capacities. With the construction of a new poultry processing plant in the Kuzhenerskom area of Mari El along with a number of other facilities, the company aims to reach 200,000 tonnes of poultry production output in 2013.